Introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes

The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of those which was only doubtfully admitted to the Hebrew canon. Its holiness was still in dispute among the rabbis in the time of Christ, and was not completely acknowledged until about a century later. Hebrew tradition assigned its authorship to Solomon; and ancient commentators, accepting the idea, suggested that the book expressed the great king's death-bed repentance for his sins of idolatry and his oppression of his people. The supposition that Solomon composed the work is now, however, almost wholly abandoned. The book is a philosophic discourse, written probably about the third century B. C. The thoughts are attributed by the author to the celebrated King Solomon, because that king might well be supposed to think them, just as a modern poet represents some hero of antiquity as speaking words which the poet invents.

The word Ecclesiastes is the Greek for "preacher." This very nearly translates the Hebrew title of the book, which is Koheleth or Qoheleth, meaning, probably, one who convenes an assembly or religious gathering. Perhaps, however, Koheleth implies rather "the preaching," or even "the preaching of Wisdom." The title is often translated into English, and the book called "The Preacher."

Ecclesiastes is a didactic treatise. Its theme is the emptiness of human life. The book is summed up in its own sad outcry, "All is vanity." The author asserts that he has tested every form of worldly pleasure and worldly effort, and that his spirit has found contentment in no one of them. This life has no value at all. Whether his soul then reaches vaguely forward, hoping for the future life and for that peace in God which passeth understanding, teachers are not agreed. Certainly Ecclesiastes contains nothing of the glorious joy and confidence of the Psalms. It clings, as do all the writings connected with Solomon's name, to the human side of life. It measures earthly wisdom and earth's little worth.

1 The preacher sheweth that all human courses are vain: 4 because the creatures are restless in their courses, 9 they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten, 12 and because he hath found it so in the studies of wisdom.

HE words of the Preacher, the son of David, king

of Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually; and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there

1102